German minister says headscarf ban could backfire
Thomas de Maiziere, Germany interior minister and member of the CDU, expressed to a newspaper his worry of a backlash against Christian symbols if Germany were to ban headscarves. Additionally, he said he would be fine if a woman were to wear a headscarf in his ministry if it as an expression of religious belief, […]
Banning of the Islamic Veil
This article addresses an increasingly sensitive subject about the repression of religious symbols, more specifically, of the Islamic head-to-toe veils. Many countries in Europe such as Germany, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands have called for various bans on the veil, but there is still debate over the legality of inhibiting one religion over another. I […]
Türken größter Anteil Etwas weniger Ausländer in Deutschland
The article “Türken größter Anteil: Etwas weniger Ausländer in Deutschland” talks about immigrants in Germany. According to the article, the number of immigrants in Germany decreased this past year compared to preceding years. However, the number of EU-citizens in Germany increased slightly, with the highest percentage increase coming from Bulgary and Romania. Nonetheless, Turks are […]
Islam for the Diaspora
This article addresses the role of imams in Germany and anxieties that exist about the nature of Islamic instruction there. As German schools lack training in the Islamic faith, Muslim congregations have been importing imams. One Islamic organization that trains Turkish imams for service in Germany, Diyanet, represents those who would like Europe to develop […]
Homeschooling: German Family Gets Political Asylum in U.S.
This article is an update on a previously posted topic and discuses a German family that was granted asylum in the United states. The family wanted to homecshool their children, which is illegal in Germany and had refused to send their children to public school. They immigrated to the United States rather than a neighboring country, […]
Lamerica
In Lamerica (1994), Gianni Amelio challenges cultural and national essentialism by dismantling the imagined border that separates Italian identity from Albanian identity. The film is set in year 1991, where post-communist Albania is in poverty and thousands of Albanians are desperate to cross the border for a better life in Italy. But without an Italian […]
The Best of (German) Turk Hip-Hop Top 10
Link to Video Here A compilation of Turkish German hip/hop rap songs, the video “the Best of (German) Turk Hip-Hop Top 10” displays a very stimulating presentation, from its title to the lyrics of the songs. Before the music even begins, the title of the video clip bears evidence of the national emphasis placed by […]
A Helpful Guide to Germany
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/ Created and sponsored by the BBC, this cultural portal provides web browers with up-to-date information about current events and the weather in Germany along with interesting articles about German culture and food for foreigners. In addition the website contains German phrases and travel arrangements for individuals seeking to visit Germany. And for those curious enough to […]
Böhmer calls for Germany to recognize foreign credentials
Integration commissioner Maria Böhmer has called for a concentrated effort to provide the 1.9 million foreigners in Germany who receive welfare with better career prospects. Aside from suggesting that immigrants need to be more willing to integrate she recognizes that many qualified immigrants are not able to work in their professional fields because their degrees […]
The Kite Runner
Based on the novel written by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner beautifully illustrates the Islamic traditions and class customs of Afghanistan along with emphasizing the cultural conflict which can occur when Middle Eastern immigrants migrate to the Western World. Through Marc Forster’s exquisite directing, primarily in his use of normal lens filming, eye-level camera angles, […]